NHMU Family Seasonal Science: Winter Solstice

The Natural History Museum of Utah is marking the winter solstice on Sunday, December 13, with a morning of hands-on making for youth and families. The solstice is the shortest day and longest night of the year, and the museum is leaning into that seasonal shift with a few different projects to work on.

There are two craft stations to start with: sun catchers and intricate paper snowflakes. The snowflakes are the kind of thing that's easy to get lost in—folding and cutting until you've got a pattern you're actually proud of. The sun catchers are a nice contrast, something to hang in a window and catch whatever light the short winter days manage to give.

Then there's the science side of things. You'll get to make 'Insta-Snow,' which is basically a playful way to explore polymers—the long, chain-like molecules that make up everything from plastic to DNA. It's a hands-on look at how those molecules behave, and it's a good excuse to make something that looks like snow without having to step outside into the cold.

The whole thing runs from 10:15 AM to 3:15 PM, so you can drop in whenever it fits your morning. It's free with museum admission, and since it's a family program, it's built for kids and adults to work on together. If you're already planning a museum trip that weekend, this is a good way to spend a few hours.